Biography Summary

Michael L. Moritz, MD, completed his fellowship in pediatric nephrology at Texas Children's Hospital in 1997. While there, he began collaboration with Carlos Ayus, MD, on the epidemiology, prevention and treatment of disorders of sodium and water metabolism in children. From there he moved on to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine where he was director of the pediatric dialysis unit. He joined the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh faculty in 1999. Dr Moritz has been recognized for his outstanding clinical work, teaching and research. He was recognized as an outstanding clinical faculty by the Department Chairmen in 2003. He has won teaching awards at the University of Chicago and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Moritz's primary research interests are in sodium and water metabolism in children. He has done seminal work in the field, pointing out the dangers of using hypotonic fluids in hospitalized children as it has resulted in numerous cases of iatrogenic death or permanent neurological injury. Dr. Moritz and Dr. Ayus were the first to recommend the use of 0.9% sodium chloride in maintenance fluids in hospitalized children as prophylaxis against developing hospital acquired hyponatremia. He has been the primary advocate in this field writing many review articles, editorials, and letters to the editor in order to increase awareness of this serious problem. Dr. Moritz also has expertise in the epidemiology and treatment of hypernatremia in children.

Dr. Moritz is active in teaching of medical students, residents and fellows. He is a speaker for the Academy of Health Education, lecturing on the management of neurohormones and electrolytes to physicians across the country. His areas of clinical expertise include dialysis and hypertension. He is on the continuous renal replacement therapy committee and is the primary educator for the critical care unit on CVVH. Dr. Moritz also is involved in multiple multicenter clinical trials investigating antihypertensive medications in children.